Visualization Analysis of Acupuncture Treatment for Frozen Shoulder Based on CiteSpace Over the Last 20 Years

Abstract

Objective: To conduct a visualization analysis of the literature on acupuncture treatment for frozen shoulder, providing reference for acupuncture treatment protocols for this condition. Methods: Research papers related to this field published from January 1, 2003, to July 31, 2024, were retrieved from the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) database. NoteExpress 4.1.0 software was used to remove duplicates and manage the data, resulting in 1266 documents. These were converted to Refworks format, and CiteSpace 6.2.R3 visualization software was employed to generate knowledge maps and analyze trends in publication volume, authors, research institutions, and hot keywords. Results: Over the past 20 years, the overall publication volume showed a trend of rising followed by declining, with the highest number of publications in 2019 (102 papers). A total of 254 institutions contributed to the publications, with the journal Chinese Clinical Research publishing the most (43 papers). Co-authorship analysis revealed 12 authors with more than three papers, with He Ping Luo and Li Juan Wang emerging as key figures in recent years. Institutional co-occurrence analysis showed that Hubei University of Chinese Medicine had the highest number of publications (10 papers), with a burst of articles published in a short time. However, both author and institution centralities were 0, and the connection density was low, suggesting that most authors and institutions lack project collaboration and communication. Keyword clustering analysis revealed 18 clusters, representing the current cutting-edge directions in research. A burst detection analysis indicated that the improvement of shoulder joint function has consistently been a major focus for clinical researchers. Conclusion: The knowledge map provides preliminary insights into the research hotspots and future trends in this field. Acupuncture and acupuncture knife treatments are key focal points, suggesting that large-scale, high-quality project collaborations should be actively pursued. Strengthening interdisciplinary and inter-regional communication among authors and institutions, increasing research on related mechanisms, innovating acupuncture theories, and refining techniques will contribute to the development and refinement of standardized acupuncture protocols for frozen shoulder.